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Fundraising is running out of money, the Democratic Party can only last for one more year, and if the difficulties are overcome, it will have to make another choice to run for election

2022-04-12T23:46:47.685Z


In the past six months, elections have been held one after another, but the traditional pan-democratic party, the Democratic Party, is no longer there. With the resignation, arrest, and imprisonment of representatives, the income has dropped sharply, but the expenses have increased greatly. In the past year, the legal cost of supporting the party members alone has reached 1.5%.


In the past six months, elections have been held one after another, but the traditional pan-democratic party, the Democratic Party, has disappeared. With the resignation, arrest, and imprisonment of representatives, income has dropped sharply, but expenses have increased greatly. In the past year, the legal fees for supporting party members alone have reached 1,100 yuan. 10,000 yuan, and the current financial situation is only enough to last one year.

Yuan Haiwen of the Democratic Party told Hong Kong 01 that the staff of the party headquarters has been greatly reduced, from the past 20 or so staff to single digits. 5.5 tons of "party cars" will be sold.


Yuan Haiwen pointed out that in addition to the sharp drop of 90% of the district councillors, he was mentally prepared to lose the income paid by the members of the Legislative Council after abandoning the election last year. We are in the most difficult situation, and we call on supporters to help the Democratic Party "go through this hurdle", hoping to raise 3 million yuan this year.


Overcoming the current financial difficulties, some party insiders revealed that the real key is to get the new government on the stage. The new district council elections will be announced. At that time, the future of the Democratic Party will fork. The key is whether to run for election again. Then hold a general meeting to set the destination.

Yuan Haiwen was asked about the Democratic Party's plan to reappear in constituency councils in the future, stressing that there is no answer today: "It's too far away, I haven't seen the end of the tunnel yet, and it's still in the healing stage." Election environment, party members' views and public opinion.


From left are Democratic Party member Yuan Haiwen and Democratic Party chairman Luo Jianxi.

(File photo/Photo by Gao Zhendong)

The main income cut off legal fees and regional expenses up to 20 million yuan

Yuan Haiwen, who is also the chairman of the Fundraising Committee of the Democratic Party, revealed that in the past, the annual income of the Democratic Party mainly came from lotteries and party dinner fundraising. These two parts can raise about 10 million yuan each year; , accounting for about 10% of the party's income, but at the same time bears the service expenses of other regions.

However, the epidemic and political environment have made these financial resources no longer available. For street lottery fundraising conducted at this time in previous years, the application for the fundraising in December of the previous year will be approved in January. However, this year, the authorities have demanded democracy twice due to the epidemic and technical problems. The party explained, "I have never tried the drag method, asked about the auditing method, and said there were complaints that we violated the national security law." The Democratic Party finally withdrew its application in February.

He revealed that he is preparing to re-submit the application this month, and aims to sell lottery tickets on the street in September to October: "Actually, after 18/19 (income) is mainly based on lottery tickets. Due to the political situation of this family, the dinner party has to be bought by an institution. Unrealistically, there will be another dinner party in the future, but the format is no longer relevant." Under a series of unknowns, the expenses have increased greatly, including the largest and ever-rising legal expenses such as bail and appeal of party members.

Together with the severance costs of about 7 million yuan to be paid in advance for the tide of resignation of district councilors, and the start-up capital of 3 million yuan to retain the party's regional stronghold, the total amounted to 20 million yuan.

The Democratic Party has sold a lot of assets, leaving the Prince's headquarters.

(file picture)

The secretariat of the Prince's Headquarters is in the single digits

The Democratic Party has sold the properties in Lai Chi Kok earlier, all of which will be used to support party members' legal costs. At present, the staff of the headquarters secretariat has been further reduced, and most of the staff have been successively dismissed. Yuan Haiwen said that many have voluntarily resigned: "There are some reductions in work. Time, change the form of service.” People familiar with the matter pointed out that “manpower needs to be reduced. Everyone knows that the situation is related, and there is negotiation and volume.” The regional branches used to have secretariat staff, but now they have to rely on party members to replace them.

Yuan Haiwen pointed out that the most important thing for the Democratic Party at the moment is to continue the work in the district and support the party members in prison, so even the "party car" that often leads the parade has to be sold. The Democratic Party has recently launched a fundraising online store, which is dedicated to open source sales of postcards from Sister Qing and environmentally friendly cloth bags. Depend on the public!"

Efforts to apply for a platform for consumer vouchers: the Democratic Party will not approve it

It is understood that the Democratic Party is considering the risks of crowdfunding. People familiar with the matter described that there have been many strange accusations such as "money laundering", and the risk of online stores is relatively low.

When asked whether online stores can use consumer coupons, Yuan pointed out that he had worked hard to apply for relevant electronic platforms or third-party payment tools, but "as soon as I heard the Democratic Party did not approve it. Although the electronic platforms did not reject it, they did not approve it." Previously, due to disagreements over "running for the Legislative Council", the chief fundraiser, Li Huaming, stated that if he did not run for the election, he would "have no money". Has he contributed to the financial difficulties this time?

Yuan Zhi would not comment by name, emphasizing that all the elders and seniors work together.

Until the district election arrangement is released?

Yuan: Only think about the future you can see

Fundraising can only solve the urgent need, and the oath of district councilors has triggered a wave of departures. The number of Democratic district councillors has dropped sharply from more than 90 to single digits, which is also one of the reasons for the financial difficulties.

As Yuen Haiwen pointed out, one of the important tasks of the Democratic Party is to continue regional services. For this purpose, it has already undertaken an expenditure of 3 million yuan. There are fewer district councillors to pay, but more expenses are incurred.

The next district council election will be held at the end of next year. People familiar with the matter pointed out that the solution to the current financial difficulties will be until the district election plan is released, and then another bifurcation will be faced.

Another person in the party pointed out that the Democratic Party will hold another party members meeting to set the way forward. It is estimated that if the electoral system remains unchanged, it will only be required to take an oath. It has never been formally discussed.

Yuan Haiwen did not respond to whether he considered this, emphasizing that "I don't know when it will become a point, and I don't know all the appointments." He only considers "the future that we can expect", maintains regional services, and reiterates that the existing financial resources can only last until March 3 of next year. , In April, if less than 3 million yuan can be raised, there will be cash flow problems.

Yuan Haiwen pointed out that whether the Democratic Party will send members to participate in district elections by the end of next year "doesn't have an answer today, look at the future in the future, be realistic, and look at the election environment and public opinions", and then the Central Committee and party members will decide.

He continued to point out that the work of the district councillors is currently "hands and feet". For example, it is difficult to discuss anti-epidemic and material issues in the district council, so one can only "do it all". It is too far away to talk about running for the next election. See the end of the tunnel!"

The Central Committee of the Democratic Party passed the removal of Liang Yiting and Su Yiheng and froze Li Huaming's party membership. The execution of the comrade-in-arms' market sale was suspended. Not to mention "Happy New Year" Yin Zhaojian was called in prison and decided to be baptized during Christmas|Politics

Source: hk1

All news articles on 2022-04-12

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